When a minor patient requires care for a leg injury and refuses transport, what is the proper course of action?

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Minors generally cannot give legal consent for medical care, so obtaining consent from a parent or guardian is the first and most appropriate step. When a minor needs care for a leg injury and refuses transport, the EMS team should contact a parent or guardian to obtain permission for evaluation, treatment, and possible transport. This ensures the patient receives needed care with proper authorization and avoids acting against the patient’s or family’s legal rights. If a parent or guardian is reachable and provides consent, proceed with treatment and transport as indicated. If no guardian can be reached and there is no immediate life- or limb-threatening emergency, you should not force treatment or transport; continue efforts to contact and document the situation. If there is an urgent emergency and no guardian is available, care may be provided under implied consent to protect the patient, but you still document the rationale and attempts to obtain consent.